Y-connector fluid system for vehicle sensor cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles' sensors, such as LIDAR devices, are often affected by obstructions like dust, snow, and insects, which impair their operation and require effective cleaning methods to maintain functionality.
Innovation Solution
A fluid system with a one-way check valve, Y-connector, and pressure sensor is used to distribute washer fluid to sensors, allowing for targeted cleaning while monitoring pressure to detect malfunctions, featuring a compact design with a small number of components and a single-piece Y-connector for easy packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid system is designed to clean multiple sensors, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple connectors and pressure sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single Y-connector component that integrates fluid distribution to multiple sensors and pressure sensing capabilities in one unit, reducing the total component count while maintaining the ability to clean multiple sensors effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The Y-connector is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs fluid distribution to multiple sensor locations and pressure monitoring, eliminating the need for separate connectors and pressure sensors for each sensor being cleaned
2Ease of manufacture
If a compact fluid system is used with minimal components, then packaging ease is improved, but pressure monitoring reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is integrated directly into the Y-connector structure, combining pressure monitoring functionality with the fluid distribution component, which simplifies packaging while maintaining reliable pressure detection for malfunction identification
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid system includes a one-way check valve including a check-valve inlet and a check-valve outlet; a Y-connector including a Y-connector inlet, a first Y-connector outlet, a second Y-connector outlet, and a pressure-sensor connector; an inlet hose fluidly connecting the check-valve outlet and the Y-connector inlet; and a pressure sensor fluidly connected to the Y-connector via the pressure-sensor connector. The Y-connector inlet, Y-connector outlets, and pressure-sensor connector are fluidly connected to each other inside the Y-connector.